"From the manager's point of view, I think I can hit better. I was thinking that I would be able to play well in about a month. I started late (due to injury). It must have been frustrating for me because I couldn't get a hit, but from our point of view, I was sure that I would come up at a certain point," Lee said. "Now that I am playing a game that I am very satisfied with, I think I will maintain the play that I can play."
Did Kim do so as Lee Bum-ho said? He showed strong performance for two consecutive days. Kim played as the third baseman of the first batter's box on Sunday and drew a solo arch at his second at bat in the top of the third inning.
With KIA trailing 1-3 in the top of the third inning without one out, Kim Kwang-hyun's first pitch 122km/h slider was pulled over the left-center fence. It was the second consecutive home run following the home run against the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon on the 14th.
He then played as the second batter's third baseman in a showdown on the 17th, recording three hits in four at-bats, two homers, five RBIs, four runs and one stolen base. Kim Do-young, who had a hit from his first at-bat, hit a grounder to the second base in his second at-bat, but succeeded in stealing after getting on base with a hit ball in the top of the fifth inning.
He then hit Choi's two-pitch 141 km/h cutter in his fourth at bat in the top of the seventh inning to hit the central fence. He did not miss the concentrated mistake. It was a three-run homer. With this homer, Kim recorded his first three consecutive home runs in his debut.
However, it was not the end. He drew a two-run arch when he hit Lee's 142 km/h four-seam fastball with no outs and runners on first base in the top of the ninth inning. It was Kim's second consecutive at-bat home run of his career. He also added two RBIs, setting a new record for the most RBIs in a single game.
"I had a great feeling even before I came (to Incheon), but I think I reached the highest point here. I can see the ball very well and the sensitivity seems to have reached the highest level," Kim said after the game. "In the case of my second home run, I thought I would really hit a double, but I was surprised that it went over. I felt that my first home run would go over because it was a bit of a good match."
Kim Do-young was diagnosed with a ruptured internal ligament and shoulder fracture in his left thumb while sliding headfirst in the final match against Japan in the final match of the Karnest Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) 2023 tournament at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo last November.
Kim, who slowly prepared for the season, recorded a batting average of 0.154 in March, but has been revived since April. The moment when he felt that he definitely recovered was against the LG Twins in Gwangju on April 9. At that time, he recorded four hits, one homer, three RBIs and one run from five times at bat.
Kim said, "I was a little certain then. Now I felt certain that I could advance. Until then, even if I had multiple hits, I had a lot of worries about tomorrow, but after that game, I started the game a little comfortably."
Finally, he said, "As I always said, my goal is to play full time. I think playing full time and then setting a goal is repair. Honestly, it doesn't mean anything if you get hurt now," adding, "Now, I'm grateful just to be able to check my physical condition and play every game in good health. I don't want to miss the full time this year."
BY: 토토사이트 모음
